64 THE ECCLESIASTICAL SEALS OF CORNWALL. 



brethren at Exeter, were ornamented with sacred 

 effigies, and words to this effect: — " Sigilliim con- 

 ventus fratrum minorum Exonie," see Oliver (Mon : 

 pp. 331, 333, Plate, &c). It does not appear that 

 any seals of Bodmin Friary have yet been found, but 

 doubtless one or more existed, bearing some legend 

 similar to that just quoted, except as to local term. 



St. LAUEENCE de PONTEBOY (or Penpoy, &c.), juxta 

 Bodmin, Lepers' Hospital. (Dedication, St. Laurence, Deacon 

 and Martyr). Founded probably in the 13th century, — perhaps 

 through the efforts of the Franciscans. 



A "Bailiff of the Leppers of Bodmin" is named in 1302. 

 The chapel was consecrated in 1382. Concerning the terrible 

 scourge of leprosy, and the history of this Alms-house or Lazar- 

 priory with its Bailiff, Prior, Grovernor or Master, its Chaplains, 

 Brethren and Sisters, who, all told, were at one time as many 

 as forty, see Sir John Maclean's excelLenfc account (Trigg 

 Minor, vol. 1, p. 193, ^'c), also see Babington, Smirke, and 

 Way, {R.l. of C. Journal, Vol. 3, p. 21), OKver (Mon: p. 15), 

 Lake's Hist. Cornwall, (vol. 1, pp. 80, 100); Dunkin (Test 

 Cornub., p. 8). 



The name of the village in which these " poor lepers " dwelt, 

 has been written variously, — Pontaboyes, Pont Boye, &c., — but 

 seems to have been intended for Pont-de-bois, Wood-bridge. 

 There is now a stone bridge at the place. The Hospital received 

 gifts of lands, and a charter, and was allowed a market and 

 fairs. Its revenues escaped the spoliation of religious hoiises, 

 but passed in modern times to the Infirmary at Truro, which in 

 consequence is bound to receive a leper or lepers, if required. 



1. Seal. The figure of the saint (holding the gridiron) is 

 of more grim aspect than appears in the engraving 

 in " Archeeologia Cambrensis " (vol. 9, 3rd series, p. 

 177). The same woodcut appears in R. I. of, 

 C. Journal (vol. 3, p. 32), and in Maclean's "Trigg 

 Minor " (vol. 1, p. 197) In other respects the repre- 

 sentation is very correct. For another view of the 

 seal see Lysons' " Supplementarj'^ Plates of Cornish 

 Seals," rarely found in copies of the " Magna 



